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Bossy Italian Book Review: The Hunger Games

Any book with the word "hunger" in it appeals to my foodie side... okay, I'm kidding. I actually don't even read fiction books very often, let alone YA fiction. So when a friend suggested that I read The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, I wasn't sure if I would like it. Then I saw the movie preview, and that got my wheels turning.

I love post-apocalyptic themed anything, so that was getting me sucked in.. and the movie looked good so shouldn't I read the book? When I looked it up on my Kindle and realized it was inexpensive, I downloaded it. And when I began to read it, I was hopelessly drawn into the work of Panem, of Katniss, and the Hunger Games. Hopelessly.

Every day I woke up and I could only think of one thing: The Hunger Games.

Okay, I don't want to ruin anything for anyone who hasn't read the book because everyone, should, in fact, read this book. But the Hunger Games are games that happen every year in the post-apocalyptic United States called Panem. Katniss, as you likely know from the preview on television, ends up volunteering herself in place of her sister and so she has to play the games...

The games are a fight to the death.

Just all of that sucked me in, but then there is so much more in the book that just draws you in. I loved every second of living in the world of Katniss, the main character. She is complex, strong, and the type of role model that I think is really positive for children (this is a young adult book, so...) Collins paints a vivid picture for the reader and there were times when I would look up from my book and exclaim to my husband, "I don't think I've ever read a book like this before!"

There were even times when there are battle scenes in the book and I found myself gripping the kindle, my palms sweaty and my body filled with anxiety for Katniss! I also skipped a workout to read which is really saying something because I love my exercise class. That same day, I stayed up until I finished the book.... until almost midnight (I generally go to bed around 10pm).

This book is epic. It's about love, it's about fantasy, it's about death. It's wrapped in emotion that stirs that soul and awakens the senses. Oddly, I thought that there was a lot about food in the book, making it strangely tied to me in this way. If I was living in a post-apocalyptic world, I would want to be just like Katniss--I want her strength and her abilities. I long to hunt game and be all hardcore with a bow and arrow.

Until then, I have my laptop... and I'm hardcore about it! But on a more serious note, you should read this book. It's an easy read, but it is also a fascinating tale. It's destined to be a classic.